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EC ‘concerned’ about ‘secret financial dealings’

The Election Commission (EC) is concerned about possible “secret financial dealings” during the elections, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Ayodhee Prasad Yadav said on Wednesday, calling for support from government agencies, civil society and media to curb such activities which could influence the elections.

At an interaction titled “Media and Election” organised by the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) in Kathmandu on Wednesday, CEC Yadav said the EC has already alerted the Nepal Rastra Bank, the Department of Money Laundering Investigation and Inland Revenue Department, among other government agencies, to remain vigilant about possible secret financial dealings.

“The Election Commission’s aims to ensure that no secret financial dealings take place for the upcoming elections and candidates abide by the expenditure ceiling set by the EC,” said Yadav. “The EC will need support from all sectors to maintain transparency and ensure free and fair elections.”

He also called on entrepreneurs, industrialists and businessmen to maintain transparency while donating money to political parties.

Stating that the EC has taken the issue of growing challenges to the security situation seriously, CEC Yadav said the poll body has requested the government to make reliable security arrangement for the elections.

The federal and provincial elections will be held in two phases on November 26 and December 7. 1

“The EC is confident that the government will make necessary security arrangement as the prime minister himself is looking after the Home Ministry,” said Yadav.

CEC Yadav said that the EC has made all necessary preparations for the two phases of elections.

But challenges remain in mountainous regions, as they could see snowfall during elections, he said. “We have directed the concerned local administration offices to make necessary preparations to ensure that people there can exercise their franchise.”

On election code of conduct, CEC Yadav said the poll body has sought clarifications from former prime ministers and ministers.

The EC, however, has failed to take stern decisions like scrapping candidacies in view of political transition, he added.

At the programme, National Human Rights Commission member Govinda Sharma Poudel expressed concern about the growing criminal activities in politics and its impact in elections.

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